Yasashiikuma Blog

I have two show prospect male puppies available from:

I have two outstanding show males available from this litter. The sire of the litter, “Harvey”, is pictured going Winners Dog at the CWCCA National Specialty in 2008. He is a multi-group winner, and is #4 Cardigan Welsh Corgi in the United States.

The dam, Rocky, is a Canadian and American Champion. She was Reserve Winners bitch and Best Puppy at the Canadian National specialty. She is also the mother of the record breaking Best In Show bitch Ch. Yasashiikuma Smoky Mountn Maid (Dolly) - who was Best of Winners at the CWCCA National Specialty in 2009, Winners Bitch and first Award of Merit at the Three Trail Regional specialty the following day. Dolly is the first Canadian Bred Best in Show winning bitch, and the only Cardigan to ever place in the 43 year history of the prestigous Show of Shows in Canada.

The litter is line-bred on Percy (Am/Cdn Ch. Phi-Vestavia Nautilus) and has many dogs who have achieved national specialty wins liberally sprinkled throughout the pedigree including:

• Am. CH. Myrddin Scotch Mist - Winners Bitch at the CWCCA National
• Am. CH. Phi-Vestavia Good Gracious - Best in Specialty at the CWCCA National
• Am/Cdn CH. Merrymoon Firestorm - Best of Winners at the CWCCA National ‘98, Reserve Winners ‘99, BOW Bluebonnet Specialty ‘99 and BOW Delaware Valley Specialty ‘99
• Am. CH. Mariel’s Morgan Evans - Best of Winners at the CWCCA National ‘99

These are the two boys at play, Amigo and Buddy. They were born on October 14, 2009, and have both been evaluated by several breeders internationally and deemed worthy of running on to achieve their championships.

I would also consider a co-ownership placement in a performance home, where I would be able to show the boys myself in conformation, while they worked on the performance titles.

Please contact Shelley at the link on the website or phone 519-923-2681 for further details.

Looks beautiful doesn’t it? This is a shot of Georgian Bay in the fall taken from the top of Blue Moumtain.

Blue Mountain is one of the ski resorts near Georgian Bay for a reason. Before the bay freezes, it has the nickname of “The Great Georgian Bay Snow Making Machine.”

Georgian Bay is about 200 miles long and 50 miles wide and covers an area of about 5800 square miles (accordiing to Wikipedia). This much freshwater does take time to freeze, so twice a year, before the bay freezes over, and when the ice is breaking up in the spring, the water temperature can be quite a bit warmer than the air causing “lake effect snow”.

On Wednesday the water temperature was 8°C and the air was -15°C in the morning. This was sufficient to fire up the snow making machine, since a difference of 13°C between the air and water temperature is all that is required with the high winds to pick up the moisture from the bay and drop it inland in the form of snow squalls. For a video of what they are like click here. This is actually mild - I’ve driven in them when you can’t see past the hood of your vehicle.

However this is what the driveway looked like Tuesday night.

And this is the remainder of a 6 foot fence.

We had three days of snow squalls up here - and today is beautiful and sunny. The dogs have been out in the yard and breaking trails. Here is a question:

Which path did the corgis make and which one is Brogan’s?

We’ve had a change of plan and Buddy is available and looking for a show home. He is a half-brother to Dolly and his father is Harvey (CH. Mariel’s Harvest Moon). Please contact Shelley if you want further information.

If I didn’t already have three males in the house, I’d consider keeping him myself, but I think if I did, they would soon be sending out the guys in the pretty white coats with the butterfly nets

Finally!! A decent show photo of Dolly!!

“THE OFFICIAL PHOTO”

Last weekend was the Ottawa Kennel Club show and Show of Shows, an invitational show open only to Best in Show winners. Dolly qualified by virtue of her BIS win in Sudbury in August.

At the all-breed show Dragoon was Best of Winners all three days, and is now CHAMPION YASASHIIKUMA LEST WE FORGET. This is an awesome picture, thank goodness for a good photographer to capture this moment.

Dolly set another Canadian record. The Show of Shows is a formal event and each group is judged by three judges who score the dogs. Their scores are tallied and the four group placements announced at the end group by group, from group one through to group 7.

Since I had woken up at 1:30 a.m. with a nightmare, and been up at 6 for the show, it was a VERY long days since the show didn’t even start till 7:30 p.m. First the dignitaries were piped in and introduced, and then the junior handling finals were done before the judging began.

For the herding group we drew Leslie Rogers from BC, and Shari Robinson and Joseph Lobb from Ontario. Since no Cardigan who has won a BIS including Maggie, Admiral and Zack has ever placed at the Show of Shows, I didn’t hold out a lot of hope.

By the time the group placements were being announced it was about 10:40 p.m. and I was starting to doze. I never expected to get called back in. They then announced “For the herding group - we need in no particular order - the Bearded Collie, the Cardigan…..

THE CARDIGAN??? I was awake!!

They announced from 4th place up. I would have been happy with the 4th, but it went to the Shetland Sheepdog - #10 Herding dog in the country. Group 3rd went to the Briard. I was so excited I couldn’t sit still - Dolly was either #2 or #1!!! As it turns out she was #2, losing only to the Bearded Collie - #10 dog all breeds in the country and #2 herding dog.

The formal photo should be in the mail to me tomorrow - and will hopefully hit the blog on the weekend. It was quite the performance getting all the judges, the trophies, the handler and dog all together and looking good. Dolly kept looking back at the line of judges going “Why are you all here??”. But Dean did manage to pull off a nice shot of her…I’ve actually seen it, but it couldn’t be printed in time for me to bring it home.

In the meantime here are a couple of candids that I shot of Dolly and Colin.

This girl has truly had a record breaking year:
April - Best of Winners - CWCCA National specialty
April - Winners Bitch - 1st AOM - Three Trails Regional specialty
All breed record to date:
1 Best in Show - 3 Group 1’s, 6 Group 2’s, 4 Group 3’s, 7 Group 4’s
#26 Herding dog in Canada

She is the first Canadian bred Cardigan to win a BIS in 21 years, and the very first bitch and she is the first Canadian Bred bitch to win a BIS.

And now she is it he ONLY Cardigan to actually take a group placing at the Show of Shows.

Keep climbing Dolly!!

His birthday is not really untill tomorrow - Rememberance Day - but it seemed more appropriate to post this today.

In honour of his birth date, and the regiment for which he is named, I asked Shannon to do a more serious caricature of Dragoon, which symbolizes the honour and respect for the fallen heroes who gave all that we can enjoy the freedoms many of us take for granted.

One of the most frustrating things that seems to be happening lately is that the most important wins are being captured in the worst photos - Dolly’s BOW at the National, and her Best in Show for example. However, this was an amazing win for a new “team” and needs to be celebrated.

“Chief” Best of Winners - Judge: James Frederiksen (TN, USA)

Huge congratulations go out to Eden and her puppy Chief (Yasashiikuma Burning Issue) on their very successful performance at the Lower Mainland Dog Fanciers show in British Columbia. In an entry of 3 dogs and 7 class bitches and a special - they came in Reserve on Saturday, and won Best of Winners on Sunday - for a 3 POINT WIN!! Nothing like getting the “major” in style!

Thank you to Dayl and Yolanda, and all of the others who cheered them on. This was Eden’s first show handling and one I’m sure she’ll remember for a long time!

I finally have Dragoon’s picture from the Belleville show. He went Best of Breed all three days and won Best Puppy in Group on the final day of the show

“Dragoon” Best Puppy in Group - Judge: Patricia Nemirovsky (ARG)

I also got a special plate for him. This is the insignia of the Royal Canadian Dragoons - and the plate on the frame says, “YASASHIIKUMA LEST WE FORGET”. I just thought that this would be kind of nice to have.

“Royal Canadian Dragoon Plate”